Left (Win).

あづまやの軒にしづくをとゞめをきて程なく晴れぬ夕立の空

azumaya no noki ni shizuku o todomeokite hodo naku harenu yūdachi no sora

On all four sides From the eaves droplets Yet hang; Quickly clearing is The evening shower from the sky.

Lord Suetsune.

281

Right.

夕立のほどこそしばしとまりつれなごりも涼しみ山木の陰

yūdachi no hodo koso shibashi tomaritsure nagori mo suzushi miyamagi no kage

The evening shower’s Span, but briefly Would I rest here; Coolness, a memento In the shade of mountain trees.

Lord Takanobu.

282

The Right query, ‘The use of “from the eaves droplets” (noki ni shizuku). Surely it should be “on the eaves droplets” (noki no shizuku)?’ The Left respond, ‘These are identical in meaning and have no real difference.’ They then wonder, ‘Whether the Right’s poem has not changed in topic to tree shade?’

Shunzei says simply, ‘Both Left’s latter section, and the Right’s initial section are particularly pedestrian in expression, but the Left’s “From the eaves droplets” is slightly superior.’